Adjustable hook latch



May 9, 1967 L. R. PoE ETAL ADJUSTABIE HOOK LATCH Filed May l0, 1965 INVENTORS Mw TTU/@NEWS United States Patent O 3,318,624 ADJUSTABLE HOOK LATCH Lloyd Richard Poe, Los Angeles, and Bernard W. Henrichs, Northridge, Calif., assignors to The Hartwell Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed May 10, 1965, Ser. No. 454,322 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-113) This invention relates to adjustable hook latches and included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an adjustable hook latch having a novelly arranged hook which may be adjusted lengthwise to compensation for variations in the location of the latch keeper as may be required to iit the latch to various structures.

Second, to provide an adjustable hook latch wherein the adjustment means for the hook is readily accessible after the hook latch is installed in a structure without requiring the latch to be removed or dissassembled, and wherein the adjustment means permits accurate adjustment of the hook location to insure proper engagement with the keeper.

Third, to provide an adjustable hook latch which is constructed so as to be installed with its outer surface ilush with the structure in which it is mounted, and which is intended to withstand substantial loads.

Fourth, to provide an adjustable hook latch incorporating a ush mounted latch releasing lever having limited free movement so as to be raised from a ush position and then grasped to operate the hook latch.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a 4top view of the adjustable hook latch with portions broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof with one of the side plates broken away, the latch being shown in its closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a similar side View with portions broken away showing the latch handle raised to the limit of its free movement prior to releasing the latch hook.

FIGURE 4 is a similar side view showing the latch in its fully open position.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through 5 5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through 6 6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the hook member, adjustment member and mounting block taken through 7 7 of FIGURE 3.

The adjustable hook latch includes a pair of side plates 1 of generally rectangular form joined at one end by an end wall member 2 to form an essentially U-shaped housing. The plates and end wall member are secured together by tubular rivets 3 which also serve as a means of mounting the housing in a surrounding structure. An additional tubular rivet 3 extends between the side plates at their ends remote from the. wall member 2.

Disposed adjacent each plate is a pivot -plate- 4 having a journal boss 5 extending into a journal opening provided in the side plate. Each pivot includes a Vfinger 6 which extends forwardly and is adapted to engage the tubular rivet 3 at the ends of the side plate opposite from the wall member 2.

The pivot plates ,extend toward the end wall member 2 from the axis of their journal bosses 5 and receive therebetween a mounting block 7 having journal bosses 8 at its lateral extremities which journal in openings provided in the pivot plates 4.

The mounting block 7 moves With the pivot plates 4 about the axis of the journal boss 5 and is pivotable with 3,318,624 Patented May 9, 1967 ICC respect to the pivot plates 4 about the axis of the journal boss 8.

The mounting block is provided with a bore extending transversely with respect to the axis of the journal bosses 8. The bore receives an adjustment member 9 in theform of a shaft having a head 10 at one end. The adjustment member is retained for rotation in the mounting block by a retainer ring 11.

The adjustment member projects forwardly from the mounting block and forms a screwthreaded shank 12 terminating in a tool receiving tip 13.

Vmember and terminates in a hook 17. The hook, which may be bifurcated, is adapted to engage a keeper bar 18 indicated in FIGURE 2.

The pivot plates 4 journal therebetween a handle bar 19 which fits between the side plates 1 and forms a cover overlying the hook member 14. The handle bar may occupy a position ush with the upper edges of the side plates so that when the hook latch is mounted in a structure, the exposed upper edges of the side plates, handle bar and end wall 2 may present a flush surface.

The handle bar is joined intermediate its ends to the pivot plates 4 by means of laterally extending journal bosses 20. Near the journal bosses the handle bar is provided with stop bosses`21 which extend into openings 22 .provided in the pivot plates. The openings 22 are suciently large to permit limited movement of the stop bosses 21 and thereby provide limited free movement of the'handle bar 19.

The adjustable hook latch is operated as follows:

When it is desired to open the latch, the end of the handle bar between the journal bosses 20 and the end wall member 2 is pressed downwardly so as to pivot the other and larger end of the bar upwardly as s-hown in FIGURE 3. When the bosses 21 have moved to the limit determined by the size of the openings 22, further pivotal movement of the handle bar pivots the plates 4 about the axis of the journal bosses 5 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

The clockwise movement of the journal bosses 8 move the hook member 14 clear of the keeper bar 18 and permits the hook member to swing upwardly as indicated in FIGURE 4.

When the hook member is in the position shown in FIGURE 4, .a screw driver or end wrench may be inserted under the hook 17 so as to engage the tool receiving tip 13. The tool need not be in strict axial alignment with the adjustment member, but if this relationship is desirable, the hook 17 may be bifurcated to permit axial positioning of the tool. Alternatively, the arm 1-6 of the hook member may be disposed in slight -angular relation with the axis of the `adjustment member.

It will be observed that accurate adjustment of the hook member may be made so as to insure proper engagement with the keeper bar 18. Furthermore, as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 3,-the adjustment member may permit substantial extension or retraction of the hook member so as to accommodate the side variation in the location of the keeper bar.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the construction set forth, but in- 3 stead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

We claim: 1. An adjustable hook latch, comprising:

(a) a pair of pivot plates having means for pivotingV about a rst axis of rotation;

(b) a mounting block journalled between said plates having means for pivoting about a second axis and movable yabout said rst axis with said plates;

(c) an adjustment screw means mounting and securing said screw in said block 1against movement in the direction of the axis of said screw and journalling said screw for rotation about the axis of said screw,Y

the axis of said screw traversing said second axis, and having a screwthreaded shank projecting beyond said mounting block, and terminating in a tool receiving tip;

(d) and a hook member including a screw sleeve carried by said screw shank for axial movement, an arm extending in the direction of said screw shank beyond said sleeve, and a latch keeper engaging means -at the extremity of said arm;

(e) said arm being offset from said screw shank to provide tool access to said tool tip from a direction longitudinal of said screw shank.

2. An adjustable hook latch, comprising:

(a) a pair of pivot plates having means for pivoting about a rst axis of rotation; y

( b) a mounting block journalled between said plates having means for pivoting about a second axis and movable about said lirst axis with said plates;

(c) an adjustment screw means mounting and securing said screw in said. block against movement in the direction of the axis of said screw and journalling said screw for rotation about the axis of said screw, the axis of said screw traversing said second axis, and having a screwthreaded shank projecting beyond said mounting block, and terminating in a tool Vreceiving tip; Y

(d) a hook member including a screw sleeve ca rried by said screw shank for axial movement, an arm extending in the direction of said screw shank beyond said sleeve, and a latch keeper engaging means at the extremity of said arm;

(e) said arm being olset from said screw shank to provide tool access to said tool tip from a direction longitudinal of said screw shank; Y

(f) a housing dening a slot receiving said pivot plates,

mounting block, adjust-ment screw and hook memberV and having means in the opposed walls of said slot for journalling said pivot plates about said rst axis;

(g) and a handle connected intermediate Yits ends to said pivot plates for limited pivotal movement, said handle extending between the side walls of said slot and movable, when said hook member is in its latching position, to cover said mounting block, adjustment screw and hook member.

3. An adjustable hook latch, comprising:

(-a) a housing including a pair of longitudinally extending spaced Walls;

(b) a pair of spaced plates having means pivotally supported by said walls for movement about a common first axis;

(c) a mounting block journalled between said plates having means for pivoting about a second axis and movablel about said first axis with said plates;

(d) an adjustment screw means mounting and securing said screw in said block against movement in the direction of the axis of said screw and journalling said screw for rotation about the axis of said screw, the axis of said screw traversing said second axis, and having a screwthreaded shank projecting beyond said mounting block, and terminating in a tool receiving tip;

(e) .a hook member including a screw sleeve carried by said screw shank for axial movement, an arm extending in the direction of said screw shank beyond said sleeve, and a latch keeper engaging hook at the extremity of said arm defining a transverse axis;

(f) stop means for positioning the axes of said plates,

mounting block and hook in approximate alignmentV Y to afford access to the tool receiving tip of said adjustment screw. 4. An adjustable hook latch, comprising:

(a) a housing including a pair of longitudinally extending spaced Walls;

(b) a pair of spaced plates having means -pivotally sup- .ported by said walls for movement about a common first axis;

(c) a mounting block journalled between said plates having means for pivoting about a second axis andV movable about said rst axis with said plates; (d) an adjustment screw means mounting and securing'said screw in said block against movement in the direction ofthe axis of said screw and journalling said screw for rotation about the axis of said screw, Y

the axis of said screw traversing said second axis, and having a screwthreaded shank projecting beyond said mounting block, and terminating in a tool receiving e (e) a hook member including a screw sleeve carried by said screw shank for axial movement, an arm extending in the direction of said screw shank beyond said sleeve, and a latch keeper engaging hook at the extremity of said arm defining a transverse axis;

(f) stop means for positioning the axes of said plates, mounting block and hook in approximate alignment with said hook in its latching position;

(g) a handle pivotally connected intermediate its ends between said plates for limited free movement, s-aid handle -being movable .between covering the space between the walls of said housing to an angular position, and operable to pivot said plates away from said stops and also to pivot said block about the axis of said plates thereby to free said hook;

(h) said block, adjustment` screw and hook member when said hook is free, being pivotable in a direction to afford access to the tool receiving tip of said adjustment screw.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primm-y Examiner.

JOHN R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE HOOK LATCH, COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF PIVOT PLATES HAVING MEANS FOR PIVOTING ABOUT A FIRST AXIS OF ROTATION; (B) A MOUNTING BLOCK JOURNALLED BETWEEN SAID PLATES HAVING MEANS FOR PIVOTING ABOUT A SECOND AXIS AND MOVABLE ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS WITH SAID PLATES; (C) AN ADJUSTMENT SCREW MEANS MOUNTING AND SECURING SAID SCREW IN SAID BLOCK AGAINST MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE AXIS OF SAID SCREW AND JOURNALLING SAID SCREW FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID SCREW, THE AXIS OF SAID SCREW TRAVERSING SAID SECOND AXIS, AND HAVING A SCREWTHREADED SHANK PROJECTING BEYOND SAID MOUNTING BLOCK, AND TERMINATING IN A TOOL RECEIVING TIP; 